Akhetaa

Akhetaa (also written Achtiaa and Aa-Akhti) was an Ancient Egyptian high official during the mid to late 3rd dynasty (Old Kingdom period). He is famous for his tomb inscriptions.

Identity

Family

Akhetaa was married to the confidant of the king, Meretenes. This lady is possibly the first of the Old Kingdom who was honoured with the female version of the aristocratic title "confidant of the king".

Titles

As a high-ranking official and priest, Akhetaa bore several elite and pious titularies:

Confidant of the king (Egyptian: Rekh-neswt).

Companion of the royal house (Egyptian: Semer-per-nesw).

Great one of the 'ten of Upper Egypt' (Egyptian: Wer-medj-shemaw).

Privy to all secrets and affairs of the king (Egyptian: Herj-seshet-neb-hety-nebef-en-nesw).

Director of the food menu (Egyptian: Kherep-seh).

Director of the twin basins of the royal house (Egyptian: Kherep-merwy-perwer).

Promotor of Kenmut (Egyptian: Jwn-kenmwt).

God's servant of Akhty (Egyptian: Hem-netjer-Akhty).

God's servant in the temple of king Nebka (Egyptian: Hem-netjer-hwt-netjer-Nebka).

Leader of the priests under the Red Crown of Upper Egypt (Egyptian: Sekhem-hemw-deshret).

Career

Akhetaa's tomb inscription is of highest interest to Egyptologists and Historians alike. It provides unique titles such as "Director of the twin basins of the royal house" and rare titles such as "Promotor of Kenmut". The first one is disputed, because scholars do not know if the designation "twin basin" has to be taken verbatim or if it points to sacred lakes representing Lower- and Upper Egypt. The other title, "Promotor of Kenmut", points to a priestly role as the bearer of the king's sacred panther fur. In later times, from the 5th dynasty onward, a deity named Kenmut is depicted in the solar sanctuary of pharaoh Pepi I. However, it must remain open, if this god is identical to the "Kenmut" mentioned in Akhetaa's tomb inscription.

Another subject of interest is Akhetaa's title "God's servant in the temple of king Nebka". Nebka's name appears in a royal cartouche, a practice that came up during the reign of king Huni. Thus it is believed that Akhetaa worked under this king and slightly earlier. Unfortunately, Akhetaa's inscriptions mention no further kings. However, only a part of the whole tomb reliefs is preserved today, which leaves the possibility open that indeed other kings were once mentioned.

Possible contemporary office partners included Netjeraperef, Hesyre, Khabawsokar, Pehernefer and Metjen, who were also holding office under Huni and Sneferu. All their tomb inscriptions reveal that the time of both kings must have been a very prosperous one and economy and office administration flourished.

Tomb

The exact geographical location of Akhetaa's mastaba tomb is unknown. It is believed, however, that it was once located at Abusir, as some relief blocks were found re-used in the town. The current status of the tomb is labelled as "missing".